He is staying in a convent, a retreat for anziani, old people. “Because I’m sixty,” he says.

“Sixty is not old!”

“In Sicily, sixty is old.”

I tell him to go to America, where he’d be middle-aged.

“I have relatives in New Jersey. They tell me, ‘Enzo, you should come to America!’ But I’m scared of flying. I like to be on the sea. I spend the whole day alone, fishing in my 7-meter boat. There aren’t many fish, though, because the fishermen in big boats throw their nets further out than mine, and they catch most of them.”

Just yesterday I looked to the right at a stoplight and saw an older man, balding, scruffy beard, beat up ca, leaning out his window to inspect himself in the side view mirror. Without pause, I called out and said “yes, you’re a handsome old man!” to which he grinned and said while placing his open hand over his chin, “I haven’t shaved this weekend”! I replied “it’s called designer stubble”…he roared so that I could not not see he had no teeth, only gums. AND yes, he was happy. How wonderful to discover these souls, thanks for sharing yours.

We each believe what we believe and for us it’s true… how lovely to be so content with one’s life! He called to you and let you capture him. What a treasure! Thanks as always for sharing these remarkable people with us!

Jann, once again you’ve managed to capture the essence of yet another intriguing Sicilian character! What a wonderful photo! I saw Enzo and immediately thought of The Old Man and the Sea! I love the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles!